"Food"; a tragedy of the future, in one act

PS 3507
.E542
F6
1914
Copy 1

International Copyrighted (in England, her Colonies, and
itej States) Edition of the Works of the Best Authors

'FOOD

1 9

A TRAGEDY OF THE FUTURE
Hn ©ne Bet

BY
WILLIAM C. de MILLE

Copyright, 1914, by A. G. de Mille

ALL RIGHTS RESERrED

CAUTION. -Amateurs and Professionals are hereby warned that
"FOOD," being fully protected under the copyright laws of the
United States, is subject to royalty, and any one presenting the
play without the consent of the author or his authorized agent
will be liable to the penalties by law provided. All applications
for amateur performances of "FOOD" must be made to SAMUEL
FRENCH, 28-30 West 38th Street, New York.

PRICE 25 CENTS

Xkw York
SAMUEL FRENCH

PUBLISHER

28-30 WEST 3Sth STREET

j SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd.
! 26 Southampton' Strp^kt
1 STPvAND

'FOOD''

A TRAGEDY OF THE FUTURE

lln ©tie Bet

BY
WILLIAM C. de MILLE

Copyright, 1914, by A. G. de Mills

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

CAUTION.— Amateurs and Professionals are hereby warned that
"FOOD," beinj fully protected under the copyright laws of the
United States, is subject to royalty, and any one presenting the
play without the consent of the author or his authorized agent
will be liable to the penalties by law provided. All applications
for amateur performances o* " FOOD '* must be made to SAMUEL
FRENCH, 28-30 West 38th Street. New York.

New York
SAMUEL FRENCH

PUBLISHER

28-30 WEST 38th Street

London

SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd

26 Southampton Street

STRAND

^y

FOOD.'

CHARACTERS.

Basil A Nezv Yorker.

Irene His Wife.

Harold An Officer of The Food Trust.

Scene: — Basil's home in New York City.
Time : — Fifty years from now.

2

APR -7 1914
§)CID 36631

'^FOOD/'

COSTUMES.
Basil : — Business suit.

Hat.

Gloves.

Overcoat.

Irene: — Soft, clinging- tea gown.

Harold : — Military uniform.

LIGHTS. ^

No changes. Full white and amber.

Scene: — An ordinary room, furnished with rich
plainness.

Doors L. I and r. 3.
Windows at back.
. Table r. c, with two chairs. :

Small table, with chair against l. v^rall, above
door.

Chair l. of food safe.
Small rug, c, on curtain line.
Side board at rear, to r, of windows.
At back, L., of windows, is a refrigerator, made
3

4 " FOOD."

to look rather like a safe, with heavy iron

hinges, a large combination lock, etc.

Fre place and fire, r. i, if possible, but not

necessary.

" PROPS."

1. 2 tables (i small one for telephone)

2. 4 chairs

3. Small rug

4. ^'/c/^ board

5. Refrigerator (to look like safe)

6. Telephone

7. Fireplace and _^r<? (if possible)

8. Check book

9. 5/2i^ cnevelope and &/w{? /^a/^^r (for grocer's

bill)

10. Fountain pen

11. 2 /a/?/^? covers (a white one, for centre table, for

meal)

12. 2 plates

13. 2 /or^.y

14. 2 glasses

15. I platter

16. I carving knife and /or^

17. Carafe of water

18. Small /'/w'a/ of wi/^

19. Medicine dropper (to be kept in bottle instead

of cork)

20. /^ cracker

21. 2 ^^^^ (one for case, another to keep in the

jewel-case)

22. A leather case

23. Revolver and holster

24. Small package, to look like slice of bread

wrapped up

25. Paper to ^zV/n as Harold's receipt

26. Jewel-box and jewels

ii

FOOD."

At Rise: — Irene is discovered sitting at table, R.
c, zcritiiig a check. There is a blue envelop'e
and paper in front of her.

She is a young woman, about 25, but very thin.
Basil enters l. i, wearing hat and coat. He is
a man of about 30, or 35 ; also very thin. He
comes and kisses her.

Basil. Hello, dear! (crossing to her, kisses her,
crosses to chair l. of food safe, takes off coat, etc.)

Irene. Why, Basil — you're home early —
{noticing check) Oh, Pshaw! I've done it again.
(tears up check)

Basil. Done what?

Irene. Written the wrong date. I can't get it
into my head that this is nineteen sixty-two after
writing nineteen sixty-one for a whole year, (starts
to write another check)

Basil. What's the check for ?

Irene, (z'ery seriously) The — the grocer's bill,
Basil

Basil. (very serious — pausing — crossing to
front of chair l. of table r. c.) Oh — I — I see —
(picks up bill — sits — reads it — then cheers up a bit)
Why, it's not as large as last month.

Irene. No, it's less than six thousand dollars

Basil, (scrutinizing items) Yes — five thousand
5

6 " FOOD."

eight hundred and sixty-seven dollars and forty-
four cents — what^s the forty-four cents? (rather
stern manner and tQne)

Irene, {ashamed) Four grains of sugar

Basil, {lays bill on table — rises — crossing l. —
in light reproof) We must be careful about sugar,
dear.

Irene, {in pained explanation) I've tried to be,
Basil — {rises — takes pen and check book with her —
crosses across to him l.) and really — the bill is not
much — when you consider how food has gone up.

Basil, {in happier, lighter tone) Anyhow, we
must live — and I'm as hungry as a wolf — let's have
dinner now

Irene. Half an hour early ?

Basil. I'm awfully hungry

Irene. {crossing to side board) All right —
{pointing to food safe) Open the food safe — will
you, dear — (Irene at side board arranging plates
together, platter on top, mith forks and car-vers on
platter — starts over to table — Basil opening door of
safe, biirglar alarm, {bell) rings — Irene starts) I
always forget, that burglar alarm! (Basil reaches
beJiind safe and turns off burglar alarm)

Irene {setting table) What brings you home so
early to-day, dear?

Basil, (crossing from safe to table) I'm on the
Jury. We just finished a case, {seats himself r. of
table) A very sad one, too. A man was being
tried for killing a hen.

Irene, (shocked, at the word " hen " drops fork
on plate zvith noise) Oh, the beast!

Basil. Yes — His only excuse was that his
family was starving — He was found guilty

Irene, {pausing setting table — looking at him in
reproach) And you — helped sentence him — to
death ?

Basil. There .was nothing else to do — (Irene
goes to side board gets carafe and 2 glasses, back

" FOOD." 7

to table) Don't you understand — he killed a hen —
(Irene starts) killed it in cold blood — a man who
can do that deserves no pity

Irene, {coming over from side board — filling
glasses) But his family

Basil. Oh, you women — -are so sentimental —
(Irene takes carafe up to side board, leaves it — gets
platter — starts zvith it tozcard safe) have you for-
gotten that the hen is the fowl Vx^ho lays eggsf

Irene, (reels — half fainting) Eggs — Oh!

Basil. Irene! (springs to feet — goes hurriedly
lo her, around chair r. of table) What's the matter?

Irene, (recovering — avoiding help) Nothing — ■
nothing, dear — I'm better now — but, wait a minute
I've a treat for you to-night — (continues to safe — •
Basil returns to table and seats himself' iri cJiair r.,
expectantly. Irene opens safe, takes out crackers-
lays it on platter — bears it over to table triumph-
antly)

Basil, (rather reproachfully) By Jove, dear —
but we are living high — Irene returns to food
safe — is busy there) a cracker

Irene, (facing him triumphantly) And milk — ■
(turns to safe again — gets out very small bottle — ■
crossing to table with it)

Basil, (almost horrified) Milk! Cracker and
milk — on the same day — (Irene with a medicine
dropper dropping a drop info each glass, half filled
with water) Isn't that rather

Irene, (pausing to explain) But you're making
a hundred thousand a year !

Basil, (gentle reproof) Still there's no use
squandering it, is there? (happier tone. Irene is
now seated opposite Jiim, at table, cJiair l.) How-
ever, I suppose we can treat ourselves once in a
while — (Basil carves ilie cracker — serves her zvith
half, then himself — they eat it zvith forks — she only
tastes hers) and it is delicious, (smacking his lips.
Reminiscently) Remember — when w^e were first

8 " FOOD."

married we couldn^t have these little luxuries —
{thoughtfully sad) but — you know whenever I sit
down to a meal like this — I think of the poor — who

can't buy proper food

Irene. {aLso thoughtfully sad) Yes-

Basil. That's why we could show no mercy to
that man to-day — You see — what made it so ter-
rible was — that the hen was about to become a

Irene. {getting faint again) Don't — don't
Basil — {head sinks on table)

Basil, {leaning over and grasping hand) Why,
my dear child — what is the matter? {she doesn't
answer) You must see the doctor — (Irene rises —
crosses to bcliind table) I've noticed you haven't
been yourself for some time. You haven't been
eating well — why, look there — you've hardly touched
your dinner

Irene, {looks slozdy at plate — turns head away —
gathers up both plates — empties crumbs of cracker
from both to platter) I'm not hungry — {crossing
toward safe — pauses — turning to Basil) You
won't mind having these for breakfast, will you,
dear?

Basil. No — (Irene turns to safe — puts platter
in) but the doctor?

Irene, {crossing back to table) Basil, I — I've
seen the doctor — {takes plates from either side — •
puts them together) I went to-day — {takes forks
and carvers — puts them on top of plates — crosses to
side board)

Basil. What did he say? (Irene crosses to table
for glasses — pauses at table — about to speak — ■
changes her mind) Come — come, dear — why don't
you tell me? (Irene crosses to side board with
glasses)

Irene. I— I — Oh, what's the use, Basil — it—
{crossing back to table)

Basil. It's something serious then?

Irene, {sinking in chair l. of table — facing him)

" FOOD." 9

Yes — (Basil exclaims) W-e — we might as well
face it — Basil — the doctor says — I've got to eat
another egg

Basil, {titter dismay) Oh, my God!

Irene, {weepingly, pleadingly) I can't help it,
Basil — you — you know it isn't my fault —

Basil, {rises, leans over table in wild pleading)
But — oh — won't a trip to Europe do — a change of
scene? {crossing past her l.) Anything in rea-
son— but — (Irene sinks back in chair, Basil
crosses to her) Why — it's only two years ago —
you had an egg — a whole one — I had to mortgage
this house to get it for you — surely you can't need
another so soon

Irene. I know it's terrible, but — I — {facing
front — cold — determined) I must have it, Basil — •

Basil, {crossing to l. in despairing anger) Oh,
how did you ever get this accursed taste — ah — thank
Heaven the children all starved to death. They
might have inherited

Irene. {springing to feet in protest) Basil!
(he stops) That's a cruel thing to say. {crossing
tozvard him at l.) I never told you how I came to
be — this w^ay — ^ —

Basil, {facing her in stern question) No — you
never told m.e — you married me without letting me
know you had this — this — craving for eggs — Oh,
how could you? (crossing in sad zvonder to chair
at L. of table — seats himself, back to her)

Irene. Basil — (coming tozvard him) ^\1^en I
was a little girl — my parents were very, very
wealthy — and once — they gave mc — an egg to
taste — my brother had brought it from Europe.
You don't know the effect the taste of an egg has
on one — the strange feeling of happiness — that
once felt can never be forgotten. I — I couldn't for-
get it. The taste of that egg has been the memory
of my waking hours, my dream, at night — some-
times the desire for it drives me to the point of

^

10 " FOOD.'^

madness — oh — don't look at me like that — I kiiow
I shouldn't have married you — without telling you
of it — but — {going dozvn to him — pleading) I
loved you, Basil

Basil, (rises — facing her) If you had loved
me — you would have told me — {tiir^As slozvly — ■
measured steps- — crossing from her to chair r. of
table — zvhere he stands with back to her — saddened)

Irene. (pleading zvildly) I tried — I tried
Basil- — honestly — honestly— I tried — but I couldn't
— and meanwhile— the desire grew

Basil, (turns to her — over table) Oh — but I
gave you one — I gave all I had for it

Irene, (tenderly, in sympathy and appreciation)
Yes, dear — I know — but it only fed the flame of
my longing and now I've got to have another — I've
got to — don't you understand— or I shall go mad — -
I can't go on like this — I've got a right to live my
life — to have the food my nature craves — I must — I
will have it, (she sinks to table — pounds it zvith
her fists — head buried — sobs)

Basil, (going to her and putting his arms around
her) There, there, dear — don't excite yourself — ■
come, go to bed — you'll feel better in the morning.

Irene, (sitting azvay from his embrace — fac-
ing him) Then you won't — get it — for me

Basil, (despairingly) Great Heavens — I cant — -

Irene. (turning from him — looking fixedly
front — cold — hard — determined) Very well — but
I warn you, Basil — I will not answer for the con-
sequences.

Basil, (angry) Do you think you can threaten
me? Ah — you could conquer this if you would.
You have no right to expect me to gratify ?uch
foolish, extravagant tastes.

Irene, (cold — fixed, as before) Very well — I've
nothing more to say

Basil, (bock of her chair — turns to go — pauses
back of table) Don't take it like this — Irene—

"FOOD." II

Heaven knows Td do it if I could — but it's out of
the question — Good-night — {coiitiiiiics toward door
R. sd)

Irene, {cold and hard) You're going to bed?

Basil, {standing at door— partly turned to her)
Yes — I — I have a touch of indigestion — Good-night.

{He exits r. 30?.)

(Irene looks after him, desperate — sits a moment
in thought — then faces front — her mouth zvork-
ing, as if eating — looks back again to door of
Jiis exit — then toward 'phone — then to door —
jHses — goes to 'phone on table l. takes off re-
receiver — Harold knocks at door.)

Irene, {telephone receiver off hook, in hand)
Come in. (Harold enter, stands inside doorway.
Irene is startled — rises — leaves receiver off hook.
Harold is a good looking man — in uniform. He has
a leather case strapped to his left side, a revolver, in
holster, at his right) Harold — •you.'! {sJie crosses
backward to table r. c. )

Harold, {about to run to her remembers duty of
both — draws back) Irene!

Irene. Why do you come to me — again — after
all these years?

Harold, {drawing himself erect — importantly)
You see my uniform — I am an officer of the Food
Trust

Irene, {thought of egg — a possible way to get
one — enters her mind) An officer — the Food Trust !

Harold, {cold — repressed emotion — sense of
duty) Yes — You ordered a slice of bread —
{she nods) I was sent to deliver it — {he hands her
a small package— she takes it— puts it in food safe —
he crosses across to table R. c, stands l., facing
front. She comes to him, as if to reopen old
acquaintance — he has taken receipt from cap — turns

12 '• FOOD/^

to her coldly) Please sign the receipt, (she takes
it — signs — hands it back — their hands touch — both
are much moved — he controls himself — crosses to-
ward L. — putting receipt in cap)

Irene, {leaning to him— pleadingly) Wait — •
Harold — don't leave me like this — you never under-
stood

Harold. (pauses — tiirns to her — stern —
brokenly) I only know you broke my heart and
ruined my life — when you married him — not for
love — but — for — food

Irene, (turning from him — looking front — •
brokenly) Yes — and I've been punished — The
food I crave — he can't give me — (crosses to him. —
leans tozvard left side of him,)

Harold, (drawing azvay) Be careful

Irene, (looking tozvard Husband's exit door — as
if Harold meant him) What is it?

Harold, (solemn importance) You mustn't
touch that. case

Irene. Why — what does it contain?

Harold. Hush! (looks carefully tozvard doors
turns and lays cap on telephone table — crossing to
her) An egg

Irene, (zvondcring, incredidous zvhisper — ) An
egg! An e — !

Harold, (rushes to her — catches her in arms — •
stops her mouth zvith hands) Sh — I — I shouldn't
have told you — I'm on my way to a Billionaire's
house to deliver it. (releases Iter zvhile he speaks — •
crosses tozvard l.)

Irene, (siren-like — pleading) Harold — Harold — •

Harold, (remembering his and her duty — proof
against her zviles — bitterly) No — it's too late ■

Irene, (szveetly insiniiatingly) Is it too late,
Harold? Are you so sure of that — Is there no
spark left of the old love?

Harold, (tottering mentally, pauses — looks at her

" FOOD." 13

— brokenly) God/help me — yes — (head bowed in
shame)

Irene, (temptingly) You said once — that you
would do anything in the world — if I would be
yours-

Harold. Yes — I said that — once

Irene, (crossing slowly backward to table r. c. —
as if luring him to her) Then — I give you the

chance to prove it — now

Harold, (about to rush to her) You mean — that

you will

Irene. Yes — I'll be yours — on one condition —
Harold, (rushing to claim her) Name it — name

it— and I'll

Irene, (at r. of table — zvarding him off — point-
ing and leaning toward him) Wait — give me — that

^gg

Harold, (recoilmg — pleading) W^hat ! Oh no —
you don't mean that — you're just testing me — no —
anything but that — Anything else in the world ■

Irene. ( unrelentingly — determ ined — leaning over
table to him\ Harold, give me that ^gg

Harold, (drazving back — in last, zveakening ap-
peal) My duty — I haven't the right

Irene, (passionate pleading) The right — ah,
what is right and wrong to us — we love each other —
we've the right to live our lives — for each other •

Harold. You don't realize what you're asking —
They know^ I left the store-house — If I don't re-
turn soon, they'll search and discover the truth —
then I'll be a fugitive from justice — a hunted man —
dishonored and disgraced

Irene, (alluringly) And am I not worth it?
(puts herself alluringly in front of him — they gaze
at each other — then he clasps her passionately in his
arms — kisses her. She slozvly releases herself — her
arm falling over him till it touches the egg-case —
she is almost on her knees) Now let me see the
tgg — (after a mental struggle, he undoes the case —

14 " FOOD."

first drawing his revolver and looking about care^
fully. She falls to knees, adoringly sways — about
to swoon — he catches her — lifts her to her feet — she
frees herself from his arms) Now — we must go — ■
quickly — but wait — you can't carry it in that case — •
it would be recognized — Ha — my jewel box — ■
(crosses quickly over to the side board — takes jewel
box to table — faces Harold, expectantly — he
hesitates with egg-case in hands, remembering duty
— she compels him zvith luring smile — he brings case
and lays it on table — steps back — she takes egg out
carefidly — gazes at it — about to put it in case — sees
jewels fill it — f.ings them out — puts egg in — closes
lid — Basil, enters quickly, r. 3c/ — Irene and
Harold start and exclaim — she moves azvay from
table — eyes on box — leaves box on table) Why,
Basil — I thought you'd retired

(Basil, without speaking, moves to table — seizes
jezvel box — opens — seizes egg and holds it up,
Irene shrieks— Harold draws pistol.)

Basil. Shoot — and watch it fall

(Harold's pistol drops to floor.)

Irene, (timidly — zvonderingly) Basil — how did
you know?

Basil. The 'phone— you left the receiver off — I
heard — everything-^ (Irene sinks into chair l. of
table zvith moan. Basil crosses beside Harold —
stands back of small rug) So she has brought you
— to this — very well — you can go — but — you will
leave the ecfs: — behind

-t)&

(Harold starts — cries out.)

Irene, {springing to lier feet — in protest — Basil
drazvs egg, protectingly to him) No — no — Basil —

" FOOD." 15

you won't do that — you can't be so cruel

Basil, {lozvcring anji from above head — gazing at
egg, in hollonj of hand) And this is the price of
honor — {zvith an hysterical laugJi — his face changes
to a fixed purpose)

Irene, {horrified zvonder) What — what arc you
going to do — Basil — Basil — Ah — ! (shrieks as
Basil dashes the egg to the floor — on the little rug
at his feet. She sinks to her knees over it. Harold
staggers hack, pozverless from horror)

Harold. Murderer — (crossing to Basil)
Through all your life you'll see that horrible sight —
That little egg lying there crushed and mangled,
wasted — by your hand — Thank God I haven't got
that to face

(Basil turns up stage, overcome with what he has
done. Harold turns as, if to go.)

Irene. Harold where are you going?

Harold, (turning at the door) To give myself

up

Irene. But it means death!
Harold. Yes — Good-bye

(Exits as if to Guillotine — Pause — door slams.)

Irene, (reaching out to touch Basil) Basil-

Basil. (recoiling from her zvith loathing) There
can be nothing more between you and me

Irene. You mean?

Basil. You have betrayed me for an tgg —
(crossing r. to table)

Irene. Basil

Basil, (points " Go." Irene turns, sees egg on
rug, glances back to Basil, stealthily rolls the rug
up and starts to escape with it) Irene! H^ave you
no shame — You would take it — now !

Irene. Yes — it's all I've got left now — (he turns

i6 '' FOOD."

from her) They gave it to me when I was young —
Basil — when I was young.

(Basil points to the door, and she exits weeping.
The door outside slams and he sinks on his
knees by the table, shaken by silent sorrow. )

CURTAIN.

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